Barriers to improving women’s political participation in southern Myanmar

Gender equality is critical to more inclusive and deeper democracy, states this report based on research conducted on women’s involvement in politics in the Mon, Kayin and Tanintharyi parliaments in southern Myanmar. The report draws attention to the assortment of barriers that women face as they seek to enter politics, including the cultural and institutional stereotypes and practices that maintain gender inequality. The report authors offer a series of recommendations aimed at overturning the gendered state of politics in southern Myanmar, which they argue are critical to pursing deeper and more inclusive democracy.